Assessment of iron stores in subjects heterozygous for beta-thalassaemia based on serum ferritin levels.
Serum ferritin concentration was assessed in male and female pregnant and non-pregnant thalassaemia carriers and in normal subjects of both sexes. Low ferritin levels were found in 61% of non-pregnant and in 32% of pregnant female beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes whereas male thalassaemia carriers had normal iron stores. Increased ferritin levels were not observed in any of the subjects examined. These findings show that iron deficiency is a common finding in female thalassaemia carriers of reproductive age who are not receiving iron supplementation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron